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JOCKEYS AND OWNERS BAD GUESSERS Past Performances and Horse Racing: Sense Better Than Stable Information Opinion of Easterner. New York, December 20. A group of racing folks were swapping stories in the Waldorf recently, when one of them intimated that owners and jockeys know less about the merits of horses than the regulars who rely on past performances and horse-racing sense to pick winners. One or two owners took exception to the remark, but there was one who took the affirmative. Thnt was John Shaugh-nessy, who is interested in one of the "assumed name" stables. "Last year I wagered on twenty-eight horses out of the barn I nm associated with, and never cashed a ticket. When we did turn out a winner, I was never aboard. That hardly seems possible, but its a fact. Only a few days ago, two horses in which I have an interest won at New Orleans on the same day. I never had a nickel on either one. It is evident the handlers, who have them in charge, couldnt have thought much of their chances, or thej- would have wired me. As for jockeys knowing anything, I have tried to get information from that end of the sport. Whenever they guess right, it is usually a 1 to 3 chance." Regarding owners and trainers being able to draw a correct solution of a race. James Fitz-. simmons once remarked: "If we knew for sure when. our horses were going to win, I would want to be in the business only a year. After that Id have enough money to load up a boat. If a horse runs a bad race, either the trainer or jockey is blamed, when, in nine cases out of ten, it is the horse or through some accident during the running of the race. If the same horse wins at a long price a few days later, everybody has an idea that either owner, trainer or jockey has profited when, in reality, it is only one of the freaks of horse racing. If the racing public would stop to consider that horses are not pieces of well-regulated machinery, this condition would-not exist. A good horse is about as consistent as a human being, if not more so. owing to his regularity of meals and exercise. When a horse is feeling good, he generally shows it in the morning or in his preliminary gallop, and it is a sure thing he will do his best when lie displays such feeling. Many a time a horse has had a bad night either from nervousness or the noise of a kicking or stall-walking neighbor. He cannot tell his trainer his troubles, and rarely will he show outward signs. Having worked well, his trainers or owners naturally believes in his ability to win. Horse racing is an uncertain sport, so far as predicting just what is going to happen in a race is concerned, so many tilings crop up that have a bearing on the result."
